Cleaning and polishing apparatus



Dec. 29, 1931. GUDKA 1,838,481

CLEANING AND POLISHING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 26, 1929 1mm1m.1amummMMmmmmm INVENTOR.

20 22 9,695 25 62m 6 Gad/ca A TTORNEYG.

. Patented Dec. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE;

ELMER n. GUDK'A, or TOLEDO, onro, Assrenoa TO AIR-WAY ELECTRIC APILZlCANCE- con- 1 roBA'noN, or 'ronnno,- 0310, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE -OLEANING AND POLISHING APPARATUS Application filed August 26,1929. Serial No.'388,312.

The present invention, relating, as indicated, to cleaning and polishing apparatus, is more particularly directed to the provision of a device for cleaning and polishing floors,

such device consisting of a chambered head having an operably connected tube adapted for association with a vacuum system and a downwardly opening mouth carrying brush and mop means for use in contact with the 3.0 floor, such brush and mop means functioning to collect dust and polish the floor surface and the air coursing towards said chamber acting to entrain atleast a part of the dust and convey it into a collecting receptacle. 16 My invention, as above intimated, contemplates. a continuous removal of the collected dust from the mop and brush and from successive floor areas, thus making it unnecessary to shake the floor tool periodically in 20 order to remove accumulation and allowing of the uninterrupted cleaning of large surfaces, as well as obviating any pollution of the room atmosphere due to continued agitation of the floor dust by collecting devices 25 which have become saturated orv loaded to the limit of their holding capacity. To'the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafterfully described and par- 30 ticula-rly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain structure embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:

- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning and polishing apparatus embodying the present improvements; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View of the head or operating portion of the device shown in F 1g. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on a plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section illustrating details of the brush and mop-securing means; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to that of Fig. 3,'but showin a modification in construction. 1 Tn that embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, of the drawarrangement between the opposed strips 26;

Tings, the head is shown as comprising three in its vertical bore is a tube 15, which has an angularly extending part 16, such latter part having a rebent coupling 17 which encloses a flange on the adjacent end of a tube 18. The tube 18 at its other end connects with an angularly extending tube 19, and such tube because of the turning union between the tube 18 and the coupling 17 is free to move in a substantially vertical arcuate path relatively to the plane of the brushes and mop hereinafter described.

Bemovably secured to the respectively inner and outer sides of the flanges 12 are a plurality of brushes 20 and a plurality of channels 21. The brushes, or more exactly speaking. their 7 blocks 22 are fitted together at their adjacent ends and each block is provided with a series of tufts orbristles 23. The mop 24 is made up of cords 25'which are stitched in transverse so and the bight shaped portion 27, formed by longitudinally folding such strips and the intervening cords, is removably secured within the channels 21 by means of a wire, or the like, 28. 7

When the above described device is being used for cleaning and polishing floors and floor coverings, such as linoleum and the like, the head 10 may be attached to a handle 29 through the tube 19 and the coupling 30 and the mop and brush then moved about to collect the dust and polish the floor surface. The brushes are particularlyadvantageous when Waxed floors are being conditioned; and if desired the mop cords may be treated with oil, such being especially beneficial when the device is being used as a simple tool, either alone or in combination with a handle. Ordinarily, however, the device will be used in conjunction witha vacuum system and the exhausting hose 31, connected to the handle as shown in Fig. 1, will be used'for conveying dust from the head chamber and away from the mop and brushes.

For some purposes the exhausting hose may be connected directly to the tube 19, and for still other uses such tube may most conveniently be directly connected to some part of a suction cleaner, such as its handle, for example, this latter method of use being especially adapted when the cleaner is provided with a handle which may be placed in communication with the suction chamber, although also suitable when the cleaning device herein described is used in place of the ordinary floor tool commonly employed for cleaning carpets and rugs. Irrespective of the manner of use, certain features of my improved cleaning and polishing device present advantages; among others, the following may be mentioned: the swivel connection between the tube or handle 19 and the tube attached to the head allows of working under low furniture and the like while always maintaining the mop and brush in parallel relation to the floor; the relnovability of the brushes and mop allows of the independent use of either alone; the general triangular shape of the head permits of easy access to the corners, etc.; and

go-the replaceability of the brushes and mop makes it practicable to use a single head indefinitely.

The modification in construction shown in Fig. 5 relates to the manner in which the lower end of the handle 29 is connected to the head 10. In this modification such lower end is provided at its extremity with an outwardly directed flange 32 adapted to act as a stop for an internally threaded coupling member 33. The latter is designed to engage with an externally threaded sleeve 34, secured to the head 10 by means of a curved tubular member 35 that takes the place of the angularly related tube sections 15 and 16 in the previous described form of the device. The coupling 33 is not screwed onto member 34 so tightly as to clamp the flange 32 therebetween, but the head with the complementary portion of the coupling which it carries is left free to rotate with respect to the handle. Owing to the curved form of the tube 35, the plane in which the head is thus rotatable, it will be seen, is inclined at an angle to the plane of the head and it may also be inclined, if desired, at an angle to the axis of the handle. In this way the head is left free to swivel on the handle even more freely than in the first described form.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the structure herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention;

1. A floor cleaning and pollshin tool consisting of a hollow head having a ownwardly directed flange, atube having a pivoted section in communication with said hollow head, and a mop secured externally to said flange, and bristles mounted internally of said flange, said mop completely encircling said bristles.

2. A device of the class described comprising a mop and brushes arranged in closed hollow concentric triangular figures, a head to which said mop and brushes are secured, and a hollow tube opening into said head and adapted for drawing dirt away from said mop and brushes, said mop completely encircling said brushes.

3. A device of the class described comprising two cleaning means arranged in closed hollow concentric triangular figures and in substantially parallel relation, a cap having a chamber over the central space defined by said means, and a suction tube communicating with said chamber.

Signed by me, this 21st day of August,

ELMER E. GUDKA. 

